Phenolic compounds generated from lignin degradation during the pre-treatment step in the process of producing bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass are known to be inhibitory to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The inactivation mechanism of a GH11 endoxylanase (Tx-Xyl) by several phenolic compounds varying in their hydroxyl and methoxyl radical content was investigated. Apparent kinetic inactivation parameters were measured as an approximate index of the inhibitory effects. All the tested aromatic compounds had strong negative impact on enzyme activity and kinetic analysis revealed non competitive multi-site inhibition mechanism. The interactions between Tx-Xyl and the phenolic compounds were further studied by steady-state (tryptophan) fluorescence spectroscopy. Changes in lambda(max) of emission and quenching of fluorescence intensity indicated changes in the microenvironment of tryptophan residues. In agreement with the kinetic parameters, the fluorescence derived binding constants evidenced higher enzyme-phenolics interaction affinity with increasing phenolic hydroxyl radical content, suggesting clear correlations of such radicals with the inhibitory effects. Results indicated that the inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds on Tx-Xyl activity are most likely brought about by conformational alterations of the enzyme protein inducing steric inactivation.